MINUTES
Regular Meeting of the
City of Huntington Park City Council
Monday, May 19, 2025
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Huntington Park, California was called to order at 6:01 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 6550 Miles Avenue, Huntington Park, California; Mayor Arturo Flores presiding.
PRESENT: Council Member(s): Martiz, Macias, Sanabria, Vice Mayor Martinez, and Mayor Flores
ABSENT: None
CITY OFFICIALS/STAFF: City Manager Ricardo Reyes; Eduardo Sarmiento City Clerk; Cosme Lozano Police Chief; Gerardo “Gerry” Lopez Public Works Director; Jeff Jones Finance Director, Cynthia Norzagaray Parks and Recreation Director; Andrew Sarega City Attorney.
INVOCATION
Invocation led by Mayor Arturo Flores.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance led by Vice Mayor Martinez
PRESENTATION(S)
1. PROCLAMATION FOR FORMER HUNTINGTON PARK MAYOR AND COUNCIL
MEMBER WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM
2. PURPLE HEART CITY PROCLAMATION
3. PUBLIC WORKS PROCLAMATION WEEK
4. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following people/ person provided public content:
1. Lee Squire
2. K&K Meat and Deli Inc
3. Rodolfo Cruz
4. Yvonne Correa
5. Emmanuel
6. Nancy Bugarini
7. Christian Vazquez
8. Manuel Martinez
STAFF RESPONSE
Mayor Flores would like report on agencies that are supporting city with homeless issues.
Finance: Will reach out to K&K Meat and Deli Inc in regard to their public comment.
Police: PSO’s and Officer’s
Council entered into Closed Session @ 6:58pm.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS Regarding Represented Employees - Government Code § 54957.6
City’s Representatives: Ricardo Reyes, City Manager
Employee Organization: General Employee Association (GEA) Council returned from Closed Session @ 7:19pm
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
No action taken
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY CLERK
1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
Approve Minute(s) of the following City Council Meeting(s):
1. Regular City Council Meeting held May 5, 2025
FINANCE
2. CHECK REGISTERS
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Approve Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrant(s) dated May 19, 2025 MOTION: Vice Mayor Martinez moved to approve the consent calendar. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sanabria. The motion was carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martiz, Sanabria, Vice Mayor Martinez, and Mayor Flores
NOES: Council Member(s): None
ABSENT: Council Member(s): Macias
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR AGENDA
CITY ATTORNEY
1. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING LEGAL
REPRESENTATION FOR FORMER COUNCILMEMBERS GRACIELA ORTIZ
AND MARILYN SANABRIA RELATED TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S INVESTIGATION INTO THE AQUATIC CENTER
PROJECT
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Adopt resolution to authorize legal representation reimbursement, not to exceed $30,000 per individual, for former Councilmembers Graciela Ortiz and Marilyn Sanabria, in connection with the ongoing investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office regarding the Aquatic Center Project.
MOTION: Councilmember Sanabria recused himself from voting on this agenda item. Vice Mayor Martinez motion to adopt resolution to authorize legal representation reimbursement, not to exceed $30,000 per individual, for former Councilmembers Graciela Ortiz and Marilyn Sanabria, in connection with the ongoing investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office regarding the Aquatic Center Project. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Martiz.
The motion was carried by majority consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martiz, Vice Mayor Martinez, and Mayor Flores
NOES: Council Member(s): Macias
ABSENT: Council Member(s): Sanabria
CITY MANAGER
2. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT
WITH DAPEER ROSENBLIT LITVAK LLP FOR CITY PROSECUTOR SERVICES
RELATED TO MUNICIPAL CODE ENFORCEMENT
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Approve Resolution 2025-XX amending the existing Agreement between the City and Dapeer Rosenblit Litvak (DRL) who serve as the City Prosecutor.
MOTION: Councilmember Sanabria motioned to approve Resolution 2025-XX amending the existing Agreement between the City and Dapeer Rosenbilt Litvak (DRL) who serve as the City Prosecutor.
Councilmember Sanabria also made a motion that the last rate increase was in 2012 which means that by year rate increases are below 3% (averaging around 2.7-2.8% per year) which is below rent markets. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez. The motion was carried by majority consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martiz, Sanabria, Vice Mayor Martinez, and Mayor Flores
NOES: Council Member(s): Macias
CITY CLERK
3. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS COMMISSIONS
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Make appointments to Commissions consistent with provisions set forth in Resolution No. 2025-01.
Motion:
• Councilmember Sanabria motioned to approve Blake McCormack to the Historic Preservation Commission.
• Councilmember Sanabria motioned to appoint Edgar Gordillo to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
• Mayor Flores motioned to appoint Jairo F. Avila to the Historic Preservation Commission.
• Councilmember Macias motioned to appoint Celia Rivas to the Health and Education Commission.
Council members brought up concerns regarding the appointment process of commissioners.
Council members Sanabria, Flores, and Martiz brought up their concerns regarding the appointment process stating that it is not up to code, the commission handbook, and might not be up to state law.
Council member Macias brought up that a resolution was passed and that the appointment process is up to code with that resolution.
Motion: Councilmember Sanabria motioned to continue Item to the July 7th Regular City Council meeting. Giving the Interim City Attorney to research and ensure that we are following the code of the City Commission Handbook and Ordinance. Ensure the resolution mentioned isn’t in violation of any state law. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Martinez. The motion was carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martiz, Macias, Sanabria, Vice Mayor Martinez, and Mayor Flores
NOES: Council Member(s): None
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Parks and Recreation: Thanks to all who submitted scholarships. Congratulations to the Class of 2025. The photo backdrop for 2025 graduates will be up in front of City Hall until the end of June.
Public Works: Recognized Public Works and Police Department for respective appreciation week.
Communications: All resources from presentations on Friday are available online. We have a lot of programming for the children of Huntington Park including Summer Night Concerts, Movie Nights, and we encourage people to get involved on Social Media.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Martiz: Wanted to share that she is looking to reach out to community members who are looking forward to serving on the various commissions. She announced a June 20th deadline for submissions. She was shocked at the process of recruiting commissioners. There are a lot of members in the community with a lot of knowledge looking to serve and don’t want to appoint an individual simply because she knows them. She looks forward to recruiting the best residents to serve as commissioners. She is making a public call for residents who are interested in serving.
There are 5 commissions and the youth commission for individuals who are interested in serving. She is looking to bring folks in that are new and have new ideas. I want to start talking about Salt Lake Park. She wants to start moving on that plot of land that has so much opportunity. Exploring options to see what we can do on that plot of land. She isn’t attached to a pool project but would like to see what the community would be interested in putting on that plot of land. Somebody mentioned that Salt Lake Park used to have a Salt Lake. So, it might be interesting to incorporate that. Bell Gardens invited her to the Skate Jam and got to see the skate park. She got to meeting with the Bell Gardens councilmember and looked into Skate Park Funding. Hopefully we can serve our Youth with external resources.
Councilmember Macias: Thank you to Staff! Look forward to seeing everyone at the memorial day ceremony.
Councilmember Sanabria: Thank you to the staff for all the work that you all do. He looks forward to the Memorial Day event that is coming up. He grew up skateboarding on the old skate park at Salt Lake Park. He agrees with Martiz. He asked for a report for Parks and Recreation for charging kids to use Splash Pads in the parks. He wants to make that area free of use and not charge the kids a dollar. He wants to bring more transparency to the City regarding the cases and litigation we receive. He would like to speak about litigation on the dais.
Vice Mayor Martinez: Thank you to everyone for making sure we’re here safe. Thank you for putting together the workshop budget. This was a very good opportunity to bring the community together to start learning. He asks that when the budget is presented it is done beforehand to be as transparent as possible with the community. He wanted to make a point of education. Councilmembers receive a stipend depending on the population of the community. As councilmembers we also make donations to schools and charities and all that comes from the stipend.
Mayor Flores: Thanked directors and colleagues for providing the services they do to the residents of Huntington Park. It’s great seeing the changes in communications for the residents. Thank you to the community members who continue to engage with the community. We have had residents mention Belgrade and Bisol Intersection. Hopefully we look into this. Mentioned to staff to start preparing for summer and record-breaking heat waves that we get.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Mayor Flores adjourned the meeting of Monday, May 19, 2025 @8:04pm. The next Huntington Park City Council meeting to be held on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Eduardo Sarmiento, City Clerk